High school football is here. These are the Fort Worth-area games to watch in Week One
Can you believe it? Texas high school football kicks off on Thursday, and Week 1 is full of interesting matchups.
What should you keep an eye out for as non-district play commences? Here are the Star-Telegram’s games of the week:
1. Dallas Parish Episcopal at Aledo
Bearcat Stadium, Friday, 8 p.m.
Two Texas football juggernauts are on a collision course. Last year, Dallas Parish Episcopal won the Tapps-D1 state championship, securing its fourth consecutive state title.
Aledo also secured the gold, winning a Class 5A-D1 state championship. Last year, however, the Bearcats were defeated by the Panthers 24-17 to open the year. It was their sole loss of the season.
Senior quarterback Hauss Hejny, the No. 1 player to watch in the Fort Worth-area, said the Bearcats were young, inexperienced and trying to find themselves at that point. He said Dallas Parish Episcopals’ victory solidified the school as a powerhouse in Texas high school football, but also called the Bearcat’s loss a fluke.
“We got a chip on our shoulder and we still have something to prove,” Hejny said. “We’re going to make a statement and let them know that they can’t hang with the big dogs.”
Will newly promoted head coach Robby Jones and Hejny avenge the loss?
2. Burleson at Burleson Centennial
Burleson Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Two Burleson ISD schools that are only five miles apart. The Elks vs. the Spartans, also known as the Boot Bowl, is the type of local rivalry that should produce a super intriguing non-district game.
Burleson Centennial and head coach Kyle Geller had a solid season in 2022, winning 12 games. Burleson, on the other hand, won three games, all of which were in district play.
In last year’s matchup, the Spartans won 42-12. Now, it’s a new day and the Elks have a fresh start with newly hired head coach Chad Worrell, who has 27 years of experience and a history of building championship caliber teams.
3. Frisco Wakeland at Grapevine
Mustang-Panther Stadium, Thursday, 8 p.m.
Grapevine and newly promoted head coach Bob DeBesse are starting a new era of Mustang football. They have some talent to replace, especially on the offensive end.
With an inexperienced roster, they’ll have a lot of questions to answer. On Thursday, they’ll start learning more about the potential of the team against a solid Frisco Wakeland team.
4. El Paso Eastwood at Southlake Carroll
Dragon Stadium, Friday, 8 p.m.
Southlake Carroll football is back, and the Dragons are dedicating the field to Bob Ledbetter, who coached them to Class 3A State Championships in 1988, 1992 and 1993. Ledbetter played a huge role in growing Dragon football, which now resides in Class 6A.
As if that wasn’t enough for one day, Southlake Carroll is debuting a new student section. Senior quarterback Graham Knowles, senior wide receiver Jacob Jordan and the rest of the Dragons will face El Paso Eastwood, a team they defeated 66-14 in 2022.
5. South Grand Prairie at Mansfield Timberview
Newsom Stadium, Thursday, 7 p.m.
Mansfield Timberview had a stellar season in 2022, winning 13 games and going undefeated in District 5-5A D1 play. Now, they’re expected to have increased firepower, as several talented sophomores are now upperclassmen.
The Wolves are starting a new chapter with newly promoted head coach Robert DeSanto. Elijah Pratt, one of the top safeties in the class of 2025, and Co. will face South Grand Prairie, a team that went 5-1 in District 8-6A last year.
The Wolves squeezed out a 34-30 victory against the Gophers in 2022. Who will get the upperhand in the rematch?
